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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2020)
RECORDS AND MORE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 OBITUARIES COMMUNITY Meetings • LA GRANDE — The Blue Mountain Translator District Board of Directors will meet at noon Saturday, Oct. 31, to dis- cuss hiring an offi ce assistant for the next two pay periods. Members of the public can participate via phone using teleconference number 253- 215-8782 and Meeting ID 89595602927. Meeting mate- rials will be posted online at www.bmtd.org/public-notice. • LA GRANDE — The Union County Democratic Party will have a membership meeting Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. The virtual meeting will be held via Zoon. To register, email you contact information, address and phone number to rknop@eoni.com or call 541-562-6289. • COVE — The Cove City Council will meet Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. at Cove City Hall, 504 Alder. The public may attend virtually. Instruc- tions and a link to the meeting are available at www.city- ofcove.org or by emailing cityadmin@cityofcove.org. Briefs Socially distanced trick- or-treating planned LA GRANDE — The Union County Chamber of Com- merce announced a handful of trick-or-treating options in La Grande planned with the community’s health in mind. Social distancing is required as well as proper masks for ages 5 and older. There will be curbside trick-or-treating at participat- ing businesses on Adams Avenue from 2-4 p.m. This is not an offi cial event and the street will not be closed. Look for the orange pumpkin in business windows and outside on treat tables. To help maintain social distanc- ing, participants are asked to walk on the northeast side of Adams from Greenwood Street to Max Square, and on the southwest side from Max Square to Greenwood Street. The La Grande Country Club on McAlister Road in Island City is taking reser- vations for a “Trick-or-Treat Tee Time” open to the public 3-6 p.m. Call 541-963-4241 to reserve a time slot for outdoor candy gathering. A members-only time will take place prior to the public event. Other La Grande Hallow- een options include the La Grande Parks & Recreation drive-thru trick-or-treating from 4-6 p.m. at Riverside Park; parking lot trick-or- treating from 5-7 p.m. at Next Step Flooring in Bearco Loop; and the Oregon Subaru Club’s trunk-or-treat outside Kehr Chiropractic, 1802 Fourth St. Menus Union County Senior Center takeout lunches Pick up 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande. For delivery, call 541-963-7532 before 10 a.m. Age 60+, $3 suggest- ed donation; all others, $5. Public is welcome. Inquire about family meals and prepackaged sides. NOV. 2-6 Monday: bacon cheese- burger, steak fries, fruit gar- nish, peanut butter cookie. Tuesday: ginger chicken over rice pilaf, broiled toma- toes, salad greens, wheat rolls, fresh fruit square. Wednesday: honey-glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, to- mato-cucumber salad, baked rolls, cake. Thursday: BBQ beef sand- wich, steak fries, coleslaw, fresh fruit, cookie. Friday: spaghetti and meatballs, salad greens, garlic bread, fresh fruit, cookie. Children’s free takeout breakfast & lunch menu Pick up 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central, Green- wood or Island City elemen- tary schools, La Grande. Free breakfast and lunch for anyone age 18 and younger. Fresh vegetables, seasonal fruit and 1% milk are offered daily. NOV. 2-6 Monday: BREAKFAST: ham and cheese bagel, fresh fruit; LUNCH: hamburger on a bun, tator tots. Tuesday: BREAKFAST: toaster pastry, cheese stick, apple juice; LUNCH: turkey deli sandwich, kettle potato chips, broccoli fl orets. Wednesday: BREAKFAST: mini pancakes, fresh fruit; LUNCH: crispy chicken sand- wich, cherry tomato. Thursday: BREAKFAST: cinnamon roll, orange juice; LUNCH: BBQ pulled-pork sandwich, baby carrots. Friday: BREAKFAST: yogurt pak with bagel, fresh fruit; LUNCH: popcorn chick- en, whole-grain roll, celery sticks. THE OBSERVER — 3A Grace A. (Estes) Gray 1931-2020 • Joseph Grace Arlene Gray, 88, of Joseph, died Jan. 12 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise. A graveside service will be held Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. at Prairie Creek Cemetery in Joseph, imme- diately fol- lowed by a reception until 4 p.m. at the Hurricane Creek Grange. Grace was born Oct. 8, 1931, at home on Upper Prairie Creek, to Hugh Esker and Georgia May (Beard) Estes. She joined siblings Fern and Bud. She attended Joseph schools. On Oct. 18, 1947, Grace married Tyrrell Mason Gray in Enterprise. Together they raised three children: Lois, Danny and Janice. Grace and Tyrrell belonged to the American Legion, Hurricane Creek Grange and Enterprise Christian Church. Grace cooked at the Commu- nity Connection meal site for many years. She was known there for her home- made biscuits. Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Tyrrell; parents, Hugh and Georgia Estes; broth- er-in-law, Norman With- errite; sister-in-law, Edith Estes; and son-in-law, Paul Kickman. Surviving relatives include her sister, Fern Witherrite; brother, Bud Estes; children and their spouses, Lois and Bill Ens- minger of Joseph, Danny and Kay Gray of Gresham and Janice Reidel of Gresham; fi ve grandchil- dren and four great-grand- children; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Corliss A. Boner Enterprise Corliss A. Boner, 83, of Enterprise, died Oct. 28 at St. Luke’s Medical Center Vonda Gardner wins Observer’s scary story contest The Observer LA GRANDE — The Observer received sev- eral entires for its real-life scary story contest on its Facebook page. The con- test ended Friday at noon, and the winner is Vonda Gardner of La Grande. Her award is a $20 Sor- benots Coffee gift card and a copy of this edition of The Observer. Her story is below, which we edited for grammar, punctuation, spelling and style. ‘Something in the mirrors’ The fi rst house belonging to my husband and me had been vacant for years before we bought it. After settling in, we placed three full-length mirrors in corners of the house to make the space seem bigger. One evening while my husband was out and I was doing a deep clean of the house, I kept seeing things out of the corner of my eye refl ected in the mir- rors. It would go from one mirror to the other and back again, and it wasn’t my own refl ection. This lasted about an hour. It was making me feel really creeped out so I yelled, “Listen! I’m not in the mood for this! I just want to clean my house, so will you please leave me alone?” I felt a little crazy doing that, but the weird motions I had caught in the mirrors stopped immediately. But that wasn’t the fi rst or last time we caught things out of the corner of our eye in that house. And the spare bedroom we never used was always freezing cold and somehow always remained cluttered. You would hear things fall off shelves in that room while you were sitting in the living room or cooking in the kitchen. When we moved out, we left the mirrors. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28 9:12 a.m. — The Union Coun- ty Sheriff’s Offi ce received a report of a vehicle repossession on the 1200 block of West Birch Street, Union. 10:46 a.m. — An Elgin resident asked to speak to a Union County sheriff’s deputy about telephonic harassment. A deputy contacted the person and explained options. 2:19 p.m. — A caller report- ed cattle near the railroad tracks off Highway 237 near milepost 21 about a mile north of Union. 8:10 p.m. — A Union resi- dent on the 400 block of East Dearborn Street asked for help with a leaking water heater. The Union Public Works Department received the report and reported staff would respond. 9:56 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a juvenile disturbance. An offi cer respond- ed and contacted mental health providers. THURSDAY, OCT. 29 10:09 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1900 block of H Avenue on a report of child abandonment. The offi cer determined the report was unfounded. 11:47 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of a disturbance on the 1600 block of Washington Avenue. Offi cers separated the parties. 1:29 p.m. — A resident on the 1900 block of Alder Street, Elgin, fl agged down a Union County sheriff’s deputy and re- ported telephonic harassment. The deputy explained options to the person. 1:59 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce re- sponded to Hu-Na-Ha RV, 255 Cedar St., Elgin, on a report of a domestic disturbance. A deputy arrested Chohan Taran- deep, 24, on a warrant out of Pierce County, Washington, for a restraining order violation. 5:55 p.m. — A caller com- plained about noise at Pilcher Reservoir, North Powder. A Union County sheriff’s dep- uty contacted the caller and explained options. 9:53 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1000 block of Jackson Avenue on a report of a disturbance. Offi cers found people were arguing and sepa- rated them. Please follow guidelines regarding face coverings and social distancing at all services. Nov. 6 — WALTER “FRED” BLACKMAN: 10 a.m. in Meridian, Idaho. A pri- vate family burial will be held at Alder Slope Cem- etery with a service some time in the spring. Arrange- ments are by Bollman Funeral Home. graveside service, Island City Cemetery (casual dress preferred). Nov. 7 — GRACE GRAY: 1 p.m. graveside service, Prairie Creek Cemetery, Jo- seph; reception immediately follows at Hurricane Creek Grange. — Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande Carol V. Wimer La Grande Carol V. Wimer, 65, of La Grande, died Oct. 29 at her home. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. BIRTHS GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL CRISMON: To Amanda Crismon and Cody Crismon, of La Grande, a daughter, Callie Ann Crismon, Oct. 1 at 8:09 a.m. GROSS: To Amanda LiMar Gross and Shay Michael Gross, of Island City, a son, Wesley Michael Gross, Oct. 5 at 7:52 p.m. HULSE: To Mollie May Hulse and Andrew Hulse, of La Grande, a daughter, Eloise May Hulse, Oct. 16 at 4:44 p.m. Grandparents are Marilyn and Gary Hulse and Cheryl and the late Stephen Parris. MAILMAN: To Stephanie Kayla Shelley-Mailman and Anthony Morgan Mailman, of La Grande, a son, Legend Anthony Lee Mailman, Oct. 8 at 7:14 p.m. Grandparents are Leonette and Eddie Shelley, Richard Mailman and Linda Peterson. ROCK: To Kayla Marie Rock and Justin Boyd Rock, of La Grande, a son, Ryker Rock, Oct. 12 at 8:25 a.m. YURCISIN: To John David Yurcisin, of La Grande, a son, John Jonas Yurcisin, Oct. 5 at 1:45 p.m. Grand- parent is Nelia Garcia Yurcisin. COVID-19 funding available to stabilize aff ordable housing The Observer LA GRANDE — The Oregon Housing and Community Services is offering $20 million in coronavirus relief funding to registered affordable rental housing agencies. The funding is to help sta- bilize the rental market due to tenants not being able to pay rent. Oregon Housing and Community Services in a press release announced it will provide the funding in loans to regulated afford- able housing providers and even forgive the loans if property owners forgive past due rent, according to a press release. Union County has 22 affordable housing pro- viders, including Commu- nity Connection of North- east Oregon and New Day Enterprises, with options for affordable housing in La Grande, Cove, Elgin, Island City and Union. Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director Mar- garet Salazar said in the press release that pro- tecting affordable rental housing is especially important when public health offi cials are asking Oregonians to stay home and stay safe. Breast cancer awareness brings to light importance of mental health he fall season brings cess, they may fi nd them- another opportunity selves faced with new to join together for problems and tremendous breast cancer awareness. worry. There are so many All over Union County, unknowns to face, like how people have given their it will affect their personal time, money and tears to relationships, the impact on this cause. In most years, their families, how symp- these efforts include relays, toms manifest, how treat- walks and ment will other fund- affect them, raising and the ARI WAGNER greatest efforts. GREATER OREGON While the unknown BEHAVIORAL HEALTH pandemic that cancer has limited throws our traditional in-person into the spotlight — the gatherings, we still see unknown of being here impressive efforts from another day. Here are some local business, nonprofi t quotes from women who and social service organiza- have had a breast cancer tions to fundraise and draw diagnosis: awareness to breast cancer. “I fell apart. I felt like my At Greater Oregon life fractured into thousands Behavioral Health Inc., we of pieces. As I sat there consider another aspect of looking at it all I thought, breast cancer — the impact this will never all go back this diagnosis has on mental together again. I was lost.” health and emotional well- “When my treatment being. The American Psy- was all done, I thought now chological Association what? Every little cough reports breast cancer can be was attached to the fear — one of the most distressing is it back?” events a woman ever expe- “Being faced with my riences, and she may not death taught me how to know where to turn for help. live.” For example, as women The illness can bring up begin what is often a a mix of feelings: denial, lengthy treatment pro- anger, fear, worry, stress, T loss of control, problems with self-esteem, sadness, depression, grief, guilt, iso- lation and so much more. All of this can be over- whelming and contribute to depression, anxiety, panic attacks and other mental health struggles. Feelings of anxiety and depression are normal as women face a breast cancer diagnosis, but that does not mean those feelings should be ignored. Treating the emotional conditions asso- ciated with breast cancer is as important as treating the physical illnesses. We have known for a long time that our emotional well-being affects our physical well- being and healing. It is not always as easy, however, to seek help for the emotional issues. For some, they feel embarrassed to ask for help because of the stigma asso- ciated with mental health problems. It can also be just too daunting to fi nd support for emotional issues when someone is overwhelmed, even emotionally paralyzed, with managing all that cancer brings. GOBHI has been working in Eastern Oregon as part of the Eastern ELECT DAVE C omfort The Right Choice! • Honest • Dependable • Working for the People Island City Mayor Oregon Coordinated Care Organization to remove mental illnesses from the shadows of shame and help more people who can ben- efi t from treatment. Here are some of the ways you can connect with help: •Contact your local mental health provider about treatment option (for example, Center for Human Development at 541-962-8800). •Ask your doctor or oncologist about support services. •Talk to your physician or cancer nutritionist about foods that support healing. •Talk to your physician about your anxiety and what they recommend for help. •Call the 24-Hour Crisis Helpline at 800-866-9780 or National Suicide Prevention at 800-273-8255. In addition, family mem- bers may experience signif- icant emotional stress when a loved one receives this diagnosis. It is important that they too fi nd the sup- port they need. October may be the offi - cial month for breast cancer awareness, but each day of the year can hold a different meaning for the women with this diagnosis and for their families. GOBHI joins Eastern Oregon communi- ties to support individuals and their families as they deal with a breast cancer diagnosis, and as we work together to let them know that they are not alone. ——— Ari Wagner, a breast cancer survivor, is the chief operating offi cer for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. Computer Repair Fast & Reliable Chromebooks (starting @ $ 139) Windows 10 Laptops (starting @ $ 299) Desktops $ 399 • All in Ones $ 499 New gaming towers $ 935 New monitors - 24”/ $ 169 27”/ $ 199 New Printers (starting @ $ 159) TEXT TO REQUEST PHOTOS Dale Bogardus 541-297-5831 www.outstandingcomputerrepair.com
